U.S. Pay and Benefits News

2009 Cardiovascular Health Program

Program Updated and Renewed for a Fresh New Start on September 1.

September 1, 2009
U.S.-payroll employees eligible for Chevron U.S. health plans

Cardiovascular disease can really sneak up on you. Some of the most common contributors to developing the disease don't cause noticeable problems overnight. Often it's not until you are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or when symptoms begin to surface that many people start to take serious action.

Fortunately, you do have control over the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease. There are things you can change today that could significantly reduce your risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the future. Chevron's Cardiovascular Health Program can help you recognize your risk factors and help you take action to reduce them.

The Cardiovascular Program has been enhanced, updated and renewed for another year. All eligible U.S.-payroll employees are encouraged to renew (or start anew) their participation in the program. More information about what's new for this year is included below.

What's new this year?

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment... Plus
You'll once again start the program by completing the cardiovascular risk assessment. Through a series of questions and answers, you'll understand your personal cardiovascular health risk factors and receive suggested program tracks designed to help you make positive lifestyle changes. These tracks include resources about exercise, nutrition, blood pressure, cholesterol, stress or smoking cessation. This year the tool has been enhanced to include two new additional program topics about sleep issues and diabetes prevention. Eligible dependents age 18 or older are once again welcome to take the cardiovascular risk assessment (CRA Plus) and to use the online educational program resources.

Health Coach, Now Available to All Employees
This year, all eligible employees who complete the CRA Plus - regardless of risk level - are eligible to enroll in the free, telephonic coaching program. You'll be paired with an experienced, professional health coach who will help you set realistic goals and develop a personal action plan to try to achieve them. You and your coach will meet periodically by phone to review your progress and discuss any obstacles you encounter. The telephonic health coaching service is not available to dependents.

New Wellness Credit Opportunities
You have the opportunity to qualify for up to two, $100 Wellness Credits by meeting certain Cardiovascular Program goals by the specific deadlines. The first $100 goal - to take the CRA Plus - is due by October 30, 2009. Each $100 you receive will be credited to a health care flexible spending account. The money can be used to pay for eligible health care expenses for you or your tax dependents. You can even use the plan's new FSA debit card to make spending the money even easier. The $100 amount is tax free, and you don't have to be currently enrolled in a Chevron medical plan or Chevron's health care flexible spending account plan to qualify. More About the 2010 Wellness Credits.

Exercise and nutrition diaries now online
Your weekly exercise and nutrition goals are automatically entered into an online diary based on the results of your CRA Plus. In addition, your health coach can review your food and exercise records real-time to help you make adjustments to your plan.

Updated Educational Materials
Nationwide Better Health has updated and streamlined the content of their Lifestyle Management Program educational kits. They are redesigned, reorganized, and easier to read so you can make the most of your time.

Already participated last year?

The cardiovascular risk assessment is your heart's equivalent of an annual review. Retaking the CRA Plus is an easy way for you to check your personal status, find new areas for improvement, and develop new, healthy goals to strive toward. The CRA will show you where you are, where you should be and provide a roadmap to get there. Even if you participated in the program last September, there's always more you can do to progress toward an even healthier lifestyle. Because the program is personalized to you, your program will always be in tune with your current health status. You and your lifestyle health coach can create personalized program tracks based on your current needs, interests or risk factors. You can choose a different program track, or you can revisit the same track as last year, the choice is yours. Additional sessions with a health coach can help you recognize your successes, get you back on track if you've slipped, or refresh your perspective and give you the motivation to keep moving toward new goals. Remember, this program doesn't replace routine visits with your regular physician. In fact, you're encouraged to share the results of your CRA Plus with your physician, including any recommended action plans.

Are the results of my cardiovascular risk assessment confidential?
Only you, Nationwide, Chevron health care plans and certain third party health care plan vendors will have access to your individual cardiovascular risk assessment results. Individually identifiable data will only be disclosed in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended ("HIPAA"). As an example, the data may be shared directly to Chevron's third party medical plan vendors as part of their ongoing operations of the plan. The vendors may use it (in conjunction with actual claim data) to identify employees for optional health and wellness programs, or case management and disease management program identification. Chevron has authorized Nationwide to contact employees to invite them to use the Nationwide tools and resources as part of the Chevron cardiovascular program.

Please note: The information in this newsletter edition applies to U.S.-payroll employees eligible for Chevron health benefits. This communication provides only certain highlights of benefits provisions. It is not intended to be a complete explanation. If there are any discrepancies between this communication and legal plan documents, the legal documents will prevail to the extent permitted by law. This is not a plan text or a summary plan description. There are no vested rights with respect to Chevron health care plans or any company contributions toward the cost of such health care plans. Rather, the plan sponsor and Chevron reserve all rights, for any reason and at any time, to amend, change or terminate these plans or to change or eliminate the company contribution toward the cost of such plans. Such amendments, changes, terminations or eliminations may be applicable without regard to whether someone previously terminated employment with Chevron or previously was subject to a grandfathering provision. Some benefit plans and policies described in this document may be subject to collective bargaining and, therefore, may not apply to union represented employees.